TESOL Master’s program accredited

McDaniel’s new graduate program for teachers who teach English to students who speak other languages has been accredited by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Culminating in a Master of Science degree, the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program promotes excellence in teaching speakers of other languages.

The College has been offering graduate courses in TESOL since 2001, funded by a grant from the United States Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition. The master’s program was created in 2007.

There is a growing need nationally and in Maryland for TESOL teachers.

Nationwide, one in 10 public school students have limited English proficiency, according to the U.S. Department of Education. In Maryland, three in 10 public school students are English language learners. The number and percentage of students with limited English proficiency in U.S. public schools has grown by 57 percent from 3.2 million to 5 million from 1995 to 2006. In Maryland, the increase is 69 percent to 25,000.

“We are pleased to respond to a critical shortage area in education with our new master’s program in TESOL,” said Sherri Hughes, dean of Graduate and Professional Studies at McDaniel. “Together with our K-12 partners, McDaniel looks forward to developing strong teachers who can meet the diverse needs of children and families throughout our region.”

The program places strong emphasis on the development of professionalism in language education, accessible, high quality education, collaboration in a global community, respect for diversity and multiculturalism, and promotion of professional development and exchange for educators.